PACIFIC PALISADES – Luke Donald says he now faces much greater expectations after rising to world number one during a stellar 2011 campaign but that is a challenge he is entirely happy to meet.The United States-based Briton took over at the top of the rankings on May 30 and went on to win four times worldwide last year, including twice on the PGA Tour.He became the first player to clinch the money list titles on both sides of the Atlantic and has set his sights on at least matching all those achievements in 2012.“The best part of being No. 1 is knowing that my best golf is good enough to get me to that spot, just from a confidence and mental standpoint,” Donald told reporters at Riviera Country Club on Wednesday ahead of this week’s Northern Trust Open.“It’s gratifying to know that the hard work is paying off. The worst part? I suppose the slight added burden of expectation but I felt like I’ve dealt with that pretty well so far.Donald, whose brilliant short game has helped him become golf’s most consistent player, believes he has adjusted smoothly to being in the spotlight as world number one.“When Lee Westwood got to the No. 1 ranking, I was reasonably friendly with Lee and saw that his life really didn’t change that much,” Donald said of his compatriot who ended Tiger Woods’s five-year reign at the top in November 2010.
